John Leland

John Leland (13 September 1503-18 April 1552) was an English poet and antiquary. He served as the librarian of King Henry VIII during his reign.

Biography
John Leland was born in London, England in 1503, and he was educated at St. Paul's School in London and at Christ's College, Cambridge. In 1524, he became a fellow of All Souls College, and he studied abroad in Paris from 1526 to 1528. In 1529, he returned to England, and he sought the patronage of Thomas Cromwell. Through Cromwell's influence, he was appointed Rector of Peuplingues in Calais. In 1535, he became Prebendary of Wilton Abbey, and he also served as King Henry VIII's librarian. He examined all of the libraries of the religious houses in England, compiling lists of significant or unusual books in the libraries. During the 1530s and 1540s, he oversaw the reorganization of the royal library to accomodate the several new books arriving in it from the closed monasteries. He also became a compiler of local histories and became a notable antiquary. He died in 1552.